Dirigible headlight for automobiles.



A. WAGNER.

' DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.6. 1915.

1,172,081. Patented Feb. 15,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

TI El A. WAGNE DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT FOR OBILES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1 i5. 1,172,081,- Patented Feb. 15, 3SHEETSSHEE A. WAGNER.

DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED AUG.6, I915.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3'.

FIG. 5

OLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (20-, WASHINGTON, D. C.

7 To all whom it may concern ALBERT-WA NER, or LINCOLNQJHNEBBASKA.

DIRIGIBLE .nnannienrr Fen euroivromtns.

1.172,os1. I

Be it known that I, ALBERT which it appertains to make and use" the:

same. 7 1

The nvention relates'to improvements in diriglble headlights for automobiles.

The objectof the present invention'isto improve the construction of dirigible headlights for automobiles and to provide a simple,- practical, and comparatively inexpensive headlight of strong and durable construction operatively connected with the steering mechanism so as to throw the light in the direction in which the machine travels or the front wheels are turned and mounted in a sufliciently low position to prevent to a greatextent a glaring light and obviate the necessity of employing a dimmer or dimminglmeans and at the same time throw a powerful lightdir ectly on the ground without being obstructed by the fender or springs of the chassis.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dirigible headlight of this character equipped'with means for. enabling it to be easily operated at the steering'wheel to connect it'with'and disconnect it from.

the steering mechanism ofan automobile to enable it to respond to the movements ofthe said steering'mechanism and also to remain stationary when desired. i It is also the .object of the lnvention to provide cushioning means. for permitting a limited" vertical movement of the headlight; to "absorb shocks and vibrationsso' that a. relatively steady light will befmainta'ined' and at the same time enablea-ny character of lamp. to beemploye'd. i

.The invention also has for object to enable the cushioning means to maintain the headlight-steady in a, central position until a positive turningmovem'ent is imparted to -;the steering mechanism whereby looseness of the partsand the slight weaving movement of the wheels will be prevented from vi bra'ting the headlight and interfering with' the steady character thereof.

Withthese and other objects in view" the WAGNER, sub- .ject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at "Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 15,1916,

Application filed August 6,1915. Serial No. 44,051. i

invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes-in the form, proportion and minor detailsof construcl tion may be resorted-to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any-of the advantages of the lnvention.

In'the drawings Figure 1 isa front elevation of a; dirigible headlight constructed 7 in accordance with this invention and shown 7O applied-to an'automobile; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe same, Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectionalview f illustrating the.'constructionffor detachably connecting the lower pivotof the headlight with the laterally movable arm or lever,

Fig. 4. is an enlarged transverse sectional view illustrating the manner of mounting the headlight, Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism for transmitting motion from the steering mechanism to the headlight, parts being in section, Fig. '-6 is a horizontal sectional view on theline 6'6 of Fig. 3,Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views illustrating the arrangement of the upper and lower cushioning springs, Fig. 9 is a detail View of, the cam rocking device for hOldlIlg' the connecting means in and out of I I operation. 1 Y

Like numerals ofreference designate corresponding parts in .all the figures of the drawings;

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferredembodiment of the invention, 1 designates a'headli'ghtprefer- 5 ablylocated centrally'of the lower portion of theradiator 2 of an automobile and designed to bepartially built into the same as'shown, but it may be mounted ina'ny other desired manner with relationto the automobile so as to be applied tothe'same in-the manufacture thereof or mounted on any'ma'chine withoutrequiring any special constructiohthereof.- 1 f The headlight which preferably. consists,

ofa reflector-and a suitable lamp 3 is'provided with upper and lower vertically-alined pivots .4: and 5 andv is cushioned in the verti- V -cal movement of the pivots in an upper bearingj6 and a socket 7 ma lower pivot section 8 into which the lower pivot 5 tele-. v .scope's. The upper: spring 4: which is of spiral form is disposed-onthe u p i 't and the tubular bearing 6 and its lower end 9 is suitably fixed to thereiiector or other portion of the headlight The upper end 10 of the spring 4 is extended into an arcuate slot 11 formed in the upper portion of a substantially elliptical frame or support 12 mounted upon the of the radiator and having an opening in which the reiiector operates. The lower ends of the sides of the frame or support Pare provided with attaching portions 13 which are bolted or otherwise secured upon the base of the radiator or other suitable portion of the machine and the tubular bearing 6 which is open at the bottom depends from the top of the frameor support 12 at the center thereof. The lower spring 5 has its upper end 14 suitably fixed to the reflector or other portion of the headlight and its lower end 15 operates in an arcuate slot 16 formed in the base of the radiator or other portion of the machine and extendingin the opposite direction from the slot. 11. light is in its central position,- thesprings engage the inner end walls of the arcuate slot under a slight tension suflicient to maintain'the headlight in such central position and prevent the headlight from being affected by the looseness or any loosenessof the parts of the device or the weaving of the wheels and when the steering mechanism is operated to turn the machine in one direction one of the springs will be placed under tension. while the outer end of the other will be carried from the inner-end wall of its coasting slot. By this construction the springs operate to cushion the headlight in the vertical movement thereof and to maintain the headlight steady in a central position and prevent slight vibratory movement of the headlight without interferingwith the steering of the machine.

The lower portion or section. of the lower pivot extends below the radiator and. has its lower end 17 mounted in an. opening 18 of a casing 19 which is secured to and depends from the machine and is adapted to protect the parts from mud and other accumulation. The lower end 17 is reduced to form a shoulder 20'and is threaded for the reception of a nut 21. A washer 22 is arranged upon the bottom of the vframe and receivesthe shoulder 20 to form a bearing for the lower end of the pivot 8. The telescoping portions of thepivot sections or portions 5 and 8 are interlocked so that, when the lower pivot section is turned. by the means hereinafter described, the headlight will respond to such movement. The lower portion or section 8 of the lower pivot extends through an opening 23 in the front enlarged end or head 2e: of an arm or lever 25 extending rearwardly from the said lower pivot ofv the headlight and provided with. a

pivoted or. hingedsection 26 whicheispan When the head ranged between blocks 27 carried by the transversely movable rod 01- bar 28 of the steering mechanism ofthe-automobile. The

transverse rod or bar 28which connects the steering knuckle movestransversely in the ordinary manner in the steering of the autowhich are secured to the rod or bar 28 by suitable fastening mobile andthe blocks 2 means are provided with inner tapered or wedge shaped portions 29 which engage the:

rear; pivoted section 26 of the arm or lever atopposite sides thereof. The tapered or wedge shaped projecting portions of the blocks enable the steering, mechanism; to swing. the arm or lever 25 without permit.- ting the partsto bind and in. practicethe slots will be arrangeda suiiicient distance apart so that any weaving of. the wheelsj will not be transmitted to the headlight. The. pivot 30 which connects therear seotion 26 of the arm or lever to the front or--.

Mounted upon the lower section or POT-1 tion 8 of the lower pivot'is a sliding collar 32 interlocked with thesaid lower S8Cl310IL8 by a key or feather 33 operating n a. vert1- cal groove-3% and movable longitudinally thereof to carry horizontal pro ectinglugs 35 into. and out of recesses 36 in the upper face. of the head of the arm orlever 25,

whereby the lower section 8 of the-lower pivot is rigidly connected with thearm'or. lever 25 and is disconnected therefr'onr;

The collar is provided at thetopwvith a flange 37' and it is engaged belowthe fiangey by a fork 38 formed on one arm ofan L -shaped lever 39 and adapted to liftwthe sliding collar by engaging. beneath, the flange 37. The collar is normally iii ge downwardly by a coiled spring lOinten posed between the bottom of :the radiator.or-

of the device from the steering frame of the machine and the top of; 'thea collar. The L-shaped lever 39 which isjfulcrumed at its angle. at dl'has its other armextended upwardly and it is. connectedv by a series of rods 42, 43, and ieand bell crank levers 45 and-d6 with :a-cam 47' mountedon a pivot LS-of a stall" d9 of thesteering'wheeh and located adjacent to the same. Thecam 4:? which is provided with avsuita-bleoperatinghandle 5lis providcdwith angularly-relatedvfaoes 52 and coacts with aspring also mounted on thestafl orsupportjeil. and 3 adapted to engage either ofthe said faces; for holding the camagainst' movements;

Thecam-is adapted tobe-oscillated gto raise and lower the forked arm ofithe L-shaped- V lever to disconnect the arm or lever 25 from the lower pivot of the headlight and toconnect' it therewith.'

It will be seen that the dirigible headlightsimple and compactlyarranged and maybe controlled from a point adjacent to the steering wheel without 'necessitatlng the chaufi'eur leaving hisseat.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with an automobile of a dirigible headlight mounted on the automobile at the lower portion of the radia tor thereof and provided with upper and lower pivots and having a limited vertical movement, coiled springs mounted on the said pivots for cushioning the headlight and means for connecting the headlight with the.

steeringvgear of the automobile.

I 2. The combination with supporting means provided with oppositely extending arcuate slots of a dirigible headlight pivotally mounted on a vertical axis, coiled springs connected with the headlight and having portions operating in the said slots and arranged to maintain the headlight normally in a central position and means for connecting the headlight with the steering mechanism of theautomobile.

3. The combination with an automobile of a support or frame mounted thereon and provided with anupper tubular bearing or socket, a dirigible headlight provided with upper and lower pivots, the upper pivot being arranged in the said bearing or socket, a member having a socket receiving the lower pivot ofthe headlight, upper and lower springs for cushioning the headlight and means for connecting the said member with the steering gear of the automobile.

4. The combination with an automobile of a headlight mounted thereon and provided with a vertical'pivot, an armor lever extending from the pivot to the steering mechanism of the automobile, a device for inter- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents," I j locking the arm or lever with the pivot, and

operating means connected with'the said device, said operating mechanism including a cam located adjacent to the steering wheel and provided with opposite edges and a 7 spring arranged to be engaged by the said edges for holding the cam against'movement. 1 l

5. The combination with an automobile of a headlight mounted thereon and provided with a vertical pivot, an arm or'lever eX- tending from the pivot tothe steering mechanism of the automobile, a collar slidably interlocked with the pivot and provided with means for engaging the arm or lever,

a forked lever engagingthe collar, a spring forurging the collar into engagement with the arm or lever, and operating mechanism connected Wlth the said lever.

6. The combination: with the steeringf mechanism of an automobile including a transversely Vmovable rod of a dirigible headlight having a pivot, an arm or lever extending from the pivotto the said bar and 7 connected therewith, said arm or lever being provided with a recess, a collar slidably/ interlocked with the pivot and provided with a lug for engaging the said recess and mechanism for moving thecollar into and.

out of engagement with the said recess.

,7. The combination with an automobile; having asteering gear provided with a transversely movable bar, a casing mounted on the automobile beneath the radiator thereof, a dirigible headlight having a pivotextending into the said casing, an arm or lever provided with a head arranged within the casing and receiving the said pivot, said 7 arm or lever extending to and connected with the said bar, and means located within the said casing for detachably interlocking the pivot with the arm or lever. V In testimony whereof I afiix my signature,

JOHN FAULHABER.

Washington, D. G. 

